Lay Flat Toothbrush Holder

ABSTRACT

A two element toothbrush holder including a flexible mat. A resiliently rigid and three dimensional divider element has a flat bottom surface supported in width-wise fashion upon the flexible mat, such as in a selected end proximate location. A plurality of notched recesses or channels are formed into an upper surface of the divider element and which are adapted for supporting an angled neck associated with up to an equal number of toothbrushes in a substantially lay flat condition such that the bristles are elevated above the flexible mat.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to as toothbrush holder. More specifically, the present invention provides a two element toothbrush holder including a flexible mat upon which is supported a divider element including a plurality of notched recesses for supporting an equal number of toothbrushes in a substantially lay flat condition in which the bristle ends are elevated at an acute angle relative to the surface of the mat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is documented with examples of toothbrush holders. One such type of a holder provides for supporting any number of toothbrushes in a vertically supported fashion, such as within a cup or like container. A shortcoming of such holders is the tendency of water and the like puddling at the base of the container, thus resulting in unsanitary conditions.

Additional prior art references are known for supporting toothbrushes in an angled fashion. These include such as the one piece toothbrush holder of Root D504,587 and the neck supporting splashguard and support assembly for a toothbrush depicted in Blue, U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,516.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a two piece toothbrush holder which provides the combined benefits of sanitary support of one or more brushes and its bristles, combined with convenient transportability. A flexible mat exhibits a synthetic polymeric or plasticized construction (such as in particular an anti-bacterial or sanitary plastic) and is converted between a lay flat (use) position and roll up (storage) position.

A divider element is provided, such exhibiting a rigid constructed synthetic polymer (one example of which being a nylon or like material which can also exhibit suitable anti bacterial properties). The divider element can, in one non-limiting embodiment, exhibit a generally three dimensional rectangular configuration with a flat bottom surface and which allows the divider element to be supported in width-wise fashion upon the flexible mat, such as in a selected end proximate location.

A plurality of notched recesses or channels are formed into an upper surface of the divider element and winch are adapted for supporting an angled neck associated with up to an equal number of toothbrushes. In this fashion, the toothbrushes can be supported in a substantially lay flat condition in which the bristle ends are elevated at an acute angle relative to the surface of the mat. Additional to the ease of, use and portability for travel, the present design also avoids the unsanitary advantages of prior art toothbrush holders, in particular in such instances where dirty water and other contaminants tend to run down from the bristles to the base of the brush and pool within the holder, such often creating bacteria and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toothbrush holder according to one embodiment of the invention and which illustrates in phantom a plurality of brushes arranged in an upwardly and acute angularly supported condition upon the flexible mat and settable divider element;

FIG. 2 is a rotated perspective of the toothbrush holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a similar illustration to that shown in FIG. 2, with selected brushes removed and in order to better illustrate the notched or recessed nature of the upper surface of the divider element; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the two piece toothbrush holder in a roll-up and storage/travel condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to each of FIGS. 1-3, a variety of perspective views are general shown at 10 of the toothbrush holder according to one embodiment of the invention and which illustrates in phantom a plurality of brushes arranged in an upwardly and acute angularly supported condition upon the flexible mat and settable divider element. As previously, described, the two piece toothbrush holder provides the combined benefits of sanitary support of one or more brushes and its bristles, combined with convenient transportability and storage.

A flexible mat 12 exhibits a substantially flattened rectangular shape, such as corresponding in general length and width dimensions of up to several inches apiece (as well as a further thickness dimension of typically a 1/16″ to ⅛″ of an inch). The mat 12 exhibits a synthetic polymeric or plasticized construction (such as in particular an anti-bacterial or sanitary plastic) and is converted between a lay flat (use) position, for supporting within its outer defined perimeter the toothbrushes, and a roll up (storage) position. Without limitation, the mat 12 can include any synthetic polymer or other flexible material which can also possess anti-bacterial properties.

A divider element 14 is provided, such exhibiting a resiliently rigid constructed synthetic polymer (one example of which being a nylon or like material which can also exhibit suitable anti-bacterial properties). The divider element can, in one non-limiting embodiment, exhibit a generally three dimensional rectangular configuration (as shown) with a flat bottom surface 16 and which allows the divider element to be supported in width-wise fashion upon the flexible mat 12, such as in a selected end proximate location as depicted in order to correspond to the dimension and placement of the individual brushes, see at 2, 4, 6 and 8.

A plurality of notched recesses or channels, see substantially semi-circular shaped concave recesses at 18, 20, 22 and 24, are formed into an upper surface (collectively referenced by spaced apart locations 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34) of the divider element 14. As further shown, the recesses 18-24 are adapted or otherwise dimensioned for supporting an angled neck associated with up to an equal number of toothbrushes 2, 4, 6 and 8 and, along with the intervening spaced locations 26-34, are dimensioned with a given thickness consistent with the divider element 14 in order to support a generally neck location of each toothbrush 2-8 while retaining the overall acute angular relationship of the toothbrush with the surface of the flexible mat.

In this fashion, and as shown in each of FIGS. 1-3, the toothbrushes 2-8 can be supported in a substantially lay flat condition in which their associated bristle ends (illustrated as facing downwardly but understood to include being rotated to either side or upwardly facing positions at the desire of the user). The toothbrush bristles are further shown elevated at an acute angle relative to the surface of the mat 12 (i.e. at an angle defined as less than 90°, however for purposes of this description being without limitation in a general range of several to twenty degrees or relative to the surface of the mat).

Additional to the ease of, use and portability for travel, the present design also avoids the unsanitary advantages of prior art toothbrush holders, in particular in such instances where dirty water and other contaminants tend to run down from the bristles to the base of the brush and pool within the holder, such often creating bacteria and the like.

Finally, FIG. 4 is an illustration of the two piece toothbrush holder in a roil-up and storage/travel condition. In this view, the flexible mat 12 is wrapped around divider element 14, it being further understood that a resilient band, strap or the like can be wrapped or wound around the exterior of the mat in order to retain the components in the stored condition.

Additional variants can include the mat and divider element being produced as a single piece, this including injection molding or otherwise forming a composite article with one or more different synthetic materials. It is also envisioned that the configuration and dimensions of the mat or the divider can be modified within the scope of the invention. This can include such as redesigning the notches in the divider to exhibit any angled or other recess profile, as well as redesigning the overall profile of the divider element from the three dimensional rectangular shape as shown.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A toothbrush holder, comprising: a mat having a length, width and thickness; and a divider element supported upon said mat in width extending fashion, said divider element exhibiting a plurality of upward facing recessed locations adapted for supporting an equal number of toothbrushes such that their associated bristles are arranged in an angled and elevated fashion relative to a surface of and mat.
 2. The toothbrush holder as described in claim 1, said divider element further comprising a rigid and three dimensional rectangular shape, said upwardly facing recessed locations further comprising concave recesses.
 3. The toothbrush holder as described in claim 1, said mat further comprising a synthetic plastic exhibiting flexibility.
 4. The toothbrush holder as described in claim 3, further comprising said mat incorporating anti-bacterial properties.
 5. The toothbrush holder as described in claim 2, said divider further comprising a flat bottom surface adapted to being supported upon said flexible mat.
 6. A toothbrush holder assembly, comprising: a flexible mat having a length, width and thickness; and a divider element supported upon said mat in width extending fashion and exhibiting a rigid and three dimensional rectangular shape; and a plurality of upwardly facing concave recesses formed in said divider element and which are adapted to support an equal number of toothbrushes such that their associated bristles are arranged in an angled and elevated fashion relative to a surface of said mat in a first use position, said flexible mat adapted to being wrapped about said divider element in a second storage or travel position.
 7. The toothbrush holder as described in claim 6, further comprising said mat incorporating anti-bacterial properties.
 8. The toothbrush holder as described in claim 6, said divider further comprising a flat bottom surface adapted to being supported upon said flexible mat. 